Best fish/starfish/crab/snail

[Roberto CRC]

Hi friends in your experiencia, what is the best fish, starfish, crab, snail to clean sand of diatoms and detritus?

Sample: diamond goby, yellow head goby, twin spot signal goby, turbo snail, sand star fish?

I have had 2 diamond goby but 2 jump out of the tank.

 

[cromag27 Verified Sponsor]

Diatoms = time
Detritus = vacuum sand bed

 

[Roberto CRC]

Diatoms = time
Detritus = vacuum sand bed

My thinking is that diatoms are made from excess nutrients which in turn are caused by excess detritus, so I would like some fish, starfish, crab or snail.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

you are correct. But even if they eat it, they still poop it, so its still in the tank. The bacteria do eat it too, poop it die and then get skimmed. That takes time.
A vac and cleaning will (dare I say it in this hobby) speed the process up.

Here is a good thread to choose cleanup crew. I think your looking for ceriths snails. Most seastars, linkas and sandsifters don't last long in new aquariums as far as I know.
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/choosing-cleanup-crew-critters.258695/

 

[Roberto CRC]

you are correct. But even if they eat it, they still poop it, so its still in the tank. The bacteria do eat it too, poop it die and then get skimmed. That takes time.
A vac and cleaning will (dare I say it in this hobby) speed the process up.

Here is a good thread to choose cleanup crew. I think your looking for ceriths snails. Most seastars, linkas and sandsifters don't last long in new aquariums as far as I know.
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/choosing-cleanup-crew-critters.258695/

Excellent, good topic and I see a lot recommend the Snail of various kinds, I think that here in Costa Rica can get Astrea.

But think of a fish that constantly move the sand and has no risk of jumping the tank as happened to me with the 2 diamond I bought.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

yea I understand. The common wisdom is, any fish will jump. and no fish you can buy will clean the sand as well as you and I.

 

[Roberto CRC]

yea I understand. The common wisdom is, any fish will jump. and no fish you can buy will clean the sand as well as you and I.

Ok , thanks friend.

 

[cromag27 Verified Sponsor]

Diatoms are caused by silicates in the water. they'll eventually go away once the silicates are depleted.

My thinking is that diatoms are made from excess nutrients which in turn are caused by excess detritus, so I would like some fish, starfish, crab or snail.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Diatoms are caused by silicates in the water. they'll eventually go away once the silicates are depleted.

adding stuff makes us feel better. And snail poop is good for the tank

 

[cromag27 Verified Sponsor]

Unfortunately, true. lol.

adding stuff makes us feel better. And snail poop is good for the tank

 

[Wiz]

Watchman goby, brittle star, scarlet hermit, banded trochus. Those are my favorites for cleaning. Not saying it will solve your problem. Just answering the question.

 

[Roberto CRC]

Watchman goby, brittle star, scarlet hermit, banded trochus. Those are my favorites for cleaning. Not saying it will solve your problem. Just answering the question.

Which is the Watchman goby?

 

[Wiz]

The yellow Watchmen which can sometimes be white.

 

[Joseph Pagnotta]

Diamond Goby. In a 55 gallon reef tank, they are constantly moving and filtering the Substrate, they live to sift the sand. But make sure you have a canopy or Glass Tops. They are notorious for committing Fish-A-Side. (Jumpers).

 

[jlanger]

I will add that a pistol shrimp should be considered a member of clean up crew for those tanks with a sand bed.
The pistol shrimp is constantly working on their burrow and in doing so, they're moving sand from underneath the rock work out into the open.
It's still very important for us to keep the sand bed clean, but we cannot get to those locations covered by the rock.

 

[tripko]

I just love my diamond goby.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

I just love my diamond goby.

I kinda like him too.

You do know R2R has a photo contest.....Just sayin

 

[MamaLovesHerReefTank]

Love my 2 diamond gobies.

 

[cromag27 Verified Sponsor]

it should be noted that gobies aren't part of your clean up crew (for detritus). they will, however do a nice job at stirring up your sand bed and making a mess.

 

[Roberto CRC]

Diamond Goby. In a 55 gallon reef tank, they are constantly moving and filtering the Substrate, they live to sift the sand. But make sure you have a canopy or Glass Tops. They are notorious for committing Fish-A-Side. (Jumpers).

I love Diamond goby , but I've had 2 and have jumped out of the tank.